Joint Christian and Sikh delegation to 10 Downing Street and the Pakistani Embassy

My report on the Joint Christian Sikh delegation to 10 Downing Street and Pakistani Embassy that I organised in my role as Vice Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association:

In the wake of a number of violent and heinous atrocities enacted upon minority faith groups in Pakistan. The British Pakistani Christian Association in conjunction with the British Sikh Council, United Sikhs, Christian Peoples Alliance and the Sikh Human Rights Group, has organised a delegation to both 10 Downing Street and the Pakistani Embassy. The diabolical incidents include:

• False blasphemy charges resulting in the burning down of the Christian villages of Korian, and Gojra. Nine deaths occurred during the attack on Gojra, after a young couple were newly wed and confetti was purported to be made of torn pieces of the Quran.


• Attacks on the Christian villagers of Sumbrial under false blasphemy charges - leading to the murder of a young man in prison.


• 65 Christians worshipping at a new church in Kalar Kahar were beaten in an unprovoked attack against the Christian faith.


• A 12 year old domestic servant was raped, tortured and killed by her employer. The former president of the Lahore Bar Association has been set free on bail, as contrived evidence refuted the initial post-mortem. 300 Lawyers mobbed initial court proceedings, forcing the judge to defer the initial hearing. The rogue Lawyers have threatened Christian lawyers not to attempt a prosecution, not one has been disciplined or disbarred for any of their untoward activity.


• Jaspal Singh was travelling with two members of his family. All 3 Sikhs were kidnapped and a demand for a ransom was sent to their relatives. Attempts were made to forcibly convert the 3 Sikhs to Islam that resulted in the beheading of Jaspal Singh on Sunday 21st February 2010.

The British Pakistani Christian Association calls upon the Pakistani Government to act in accordance with its Constitution and the will of the general public of Pakistan in holding the Taliban responsible for the heinous acts against Sikhs in Swat. We ask that the British Government engages in Dialogue with the Pakistani Government to ensure this takes place.

The British Pakistani Christian Association calls upon the Pakistani Government and the legal structures within Pakistan including the Lahore Bar Association to bar or discipline the lawyers who have disrupted the court proceedings in the Shazia Bashir case. Additionally discipline should be taken against those lawyers who are preventing the rule of law being carried out by way of intimidation of lawyers acting on behalf of the family of Shazia Bashir. We petition the UK Government to engage in dialogue with the Government of Pakistan to ensure this takes place.

The British Pakistani Christian Association calls upon the Pakistani Government to afford better protection for the Christian Prosecution lawyers, acting on behalf of the family of Shazia Bashir. We ask that the British Government engages in dialogue with the Pakistani Government to ensure such protection is provided.

The British Pakistani Christian Association calls upon the British and European Union Governments to impose stricter conditions upon their aid to Pakistan relating to the welfare of minority communities within Pakistan.

The British Pakistani Christian Association wishes to work with Government Departments in looking at ways in which the rights of Pakistani minorities can be supported and improved both here in Britain and Pakistan.